To Joes original point about carrying a side lever on the the right shoulder, I believe he was referring to carrying the gun open over the the right shoulder with barrels forward as we often carry guns on a sporting clays course. The side lever is then on your shoulder side and away from your neck.
As to which side the side lever is most comfortable to use for a right handed shooter, I think the answer is somewhat counter-intuitive. The right side works most comfortably because the right handed shooter can hold gun with one hand under the action body and rotate his hand laterally as he opens the gun with one motion ( supinating the wrist). This leaves the left hand free to load the shells. Easier than opening a top lever with one hand!
If the lever were on the left, you would have to bring your hand over the gun and not be able to support the action from beneath, a less secure grip.
I say this as a regular shooter of a Grant side lever pigeon hammer gun and an Alfred Lancaster side lever Anson Deeley BLNE side lever...both on the right. They are truly effortless to open and hold with one hand!
I have also served as a loader for Joe in Charlotte with his beautiful pair of Boswells at a number of flurry shoots and find loading a pair of side levers much easier than loading a pair of top levers.
Dr. P
